Supporting device for instruments



Nov. 2, 1943. J. F. FISHTER 2,333,306

SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1II' N m m, ,%MJMM Attorneys NOV. 2,1943. FlSHTER 2,333,306

SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 2 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet? 75 VI t 34 s 4 xqa Z m ////2;% was v z v sllz 75 4-2 lk/z fil A I; 5 72 7/32 74 7 /o i '23 22 62 65 24 61Z5 2o 36 v I y 32 A z/ /5 In Ven torJacwFm/zz l 'jzlshter ttornecls,

Patented Nov. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORTING DEVICE FORINSTRUMENTS Application February 2, 1942, Serial No. 429,254

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to scientific and technical instrumentssuch as cameras, telescopes, transits, levels, range finders, etc., andmore particularly to an adjustable support or tripod head therefor.

An object of this invention is to provide a device structurallycharacterized by means enabling an instrument to be mounted on a tripodor other supporting structure for unrestricted panoramical adjustmentthroughout three hundred and sixty degrees, and tilting adjustmentthrough an angle of at least ninety degrees to either side of ahorizontal position, all in such manner that these adjustments can beeffected concurrently or independently with the utmost smoothness andconvenience, all while insuring that the instrument will be rigidlysupported by the device in any position of adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tripod head embodying alocking means of novel construction for the tilting adjustment of thehead, which when unlocked, insures freedom of movement without anylooseness between the tiltable portion of the device and its pivotalmounting, and which when locked, positively prevents a change from anyselected tilted position by the weight of the supported instrument, yetpermits the operator to make fine tilting adjustments without unlockingthe locking means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tripod head of theabove described character which is simple, rugged and compact inconstruction; is light in weight; is operable to effect panoramical andtilting movements through the medium of gear mechanisms insuring smooth,positive and dependable operation indefinitely.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in thecombinations, arrangements and functional relationships of elements asset forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the supporting device for instrumentsembodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a view of the device in side elevation and partly insection, with a portion broken away to expose internal structure;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 44 of Figure3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view illustratinga locking mechanism embodied in the invention;

Figure 6 and Figure '7 are fragmentary sectional views takenrespectively on the lines 6-6 and 1-1 of Figures 5 and 4 respectively.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the invention in its illustratedembodiment comprises a stationary support or base it) which constitutesa gear housing and has its bottom wall H provided with a vertical borel2 screw threaded to receive the threaded shank of the standardinstrument attaching screw of a tripod (not shown), to detachably andrigidly secure the head thereon. The bore l2 extends into a post l3rising from the bottom wall I I centrally of a chamber I4 defined by anupstanding flange l5.

Rotatably mounted on the post l3 for panoramical or panning movements,is an element 16, and pivotally mounted on the element It for tiltingmovements about an axis at a right angle to and intersecting the axis ofthe post I3, is a second element l1 on which latter a camera or otherinstrument is adapted to be supported.

The element 16 has a disk or cover portion 20 from which centrallydepends a bearing sleeve 2| rotatably mounted on the post I3 andconfined against upward displacement therefrom by a headed screw 22threaded into the post and extending freely through a non-circularopening in a washer 23 receiving a complementarily shaped upper portion24 of the post. The washer 23 bears against an arched resilient plate 25having an opening freely receiving the diameter of the post I3, andstressed by the screw 23 sufficiently to force and yieldingly maintainthe under surface of the disk portion 20 in friction sealing contactwith the upper edge of the base flange l5, whereby to frictionallyretain the element IS in any rotatably adjusted position,

Depending from the disk portion 20 into the chamber I4 concentrically ofthe post l3,is an annular flange, the periphery of which is providedwith suitable gear teeth 30 to form a driven gear 3|, which,specifically, is a worm wheel. Constantly meshing with the gear 3| is adriving gear 32 in the form of a worm disposed in a pocket 34 0f thebase l0 communicating with the chamber M.

The worm 32 is provided with a non-circular bore 35 slidably receivingthe non-circular portion 36 of a drive shaft 31 to provide a drivingconnection between the worm and shaft. The shaft 31 is journaled inbearings 38 and 39 in the base l0 and is reduced in diameter at one sidewall of the pocket 34 to provide an annular groove 40 into whichprojects a U-shaped'retainer 4| which locks the shaft against axialdisplacement in the base, permits unrestricted rotation of the shaft.The retainer 4| fits the pocket 34 and is confined against displacementfrom the groove 40 by a cover plate 42 which closes the pocket 34 and issecured in place by screws 43, all of which is clearly shown in Figures4 and '7. A crank handle 44is fixed to the outer end of the shaft 31 toenable the latter to be conveniently rotated to impart panning movementto the element IS on the base l0.

Rising from the base In at opposite sides of the plate 25 are spacedvertical brackets 50 and 50a having alined openings receiving a fixedpivot pin on which is mounted for the aforestated movements, the elementH. The upper face of the element I! is formed witha recess 52 freelyreceiving the knurled knob 53 of an attaching screw 54 projecting freelythrough an opening 55 in a keeper plate 56 secured to the element H by iscrews 51 (Figure 1). By means of the screw 54, a camera or otherinstrument (not shown), provided on its under side with a threadedsocket, can be detachably secured rigidly on the element IT. Theperipheral portion of the element I1 is provided with teeth to form asegmental spur gear 60 with which constantly meshes a driving piniongear 6| fi'xed to a shaft 62 one end of which is reduced in diameter toform a journal 63 rotatably mounted in the bracket 50.

The other end of'the shaft 62 is also reduced in diameter to receive abearing sleeve 64 closely fitting an opening in the bracket 50a, andbeing slightly larger in diameter than the gear 6| so as to permitinstallation of the latter between the two brackets.

At the outer side of the bearing sleeve 54, the shaft 62 is furtherreduced in diameter to form an annular groove 65 receiving a bifurcatedre tainer 65 secured to the bracket a by 'a screw 7 61,- and co-actingtherewith to prevent axialdis-' placement of the shaft 62 relative tothe brackets.

Fixed to the outer end of the shaft 62 is an oper= ating knob 68, byrotation of which, tiltingr'nove ment of the element- I 1, and hence ofthe instrument supported on the latter, can be smoothly effected asdesired in one direction orthe other. The element I1 is adapted to belocked in any selected adjusted position relative to the pane ram'icallymovable element l6 by means of a locking mechanism which comprises afriction locking member 10 in the form of a bodyhavin'g a cylindricalhead H from which co-axially projects, a cylindrical guide shank 12. Thehead H is mounted in an opening 13 in the bracket 50a, and the shank'IZpro'jects into an arciiate slot 14 formed in the tilting element I'Iconcentrically of the axis of the pivot pin 5] as clearly shown inFigure 3. An operating 'member includes a shaft 15 having one threadedend 18" screwed into a threaded bore Win the bracket 50, and extendingthrough an axial bore 18 in the locking member 10. The other andnon=circular end 19 of the shaft 15 is disposed beyond the outer side ofthe bracket 50a and has secured thereon by a; headed screw 80, the hub8| of a lever 82.

.Surrounding the shaft 15 and disposed in a pocket 83 in the lockingmember "is a coil spring 84 which bears against the end wall of thepocket and against the confronting face of the hub 8| to urge thelocking member axially on the shaft. A washer 86 of fibreor other friction creating material freely receives the shank l2 and is interposedbetween the annular trans verse shoulder 81 of the head 'lla ndthe confronting side face of the tilting element I1 for co-action therewith innormally holding the locking member 10 firmly by taking up any clearancebetween the element and the brackets 50 and 50a. Upon actuating thelever 82 in a direction to cause the shaft to be advanced axially by itsthreads 16, the hub 8| of the lever will push against the head H of thelocking member and thus cause the head to co-act with the washer 86 insetting up sufl'lcient friction to hold the tilting element I! in anyselected position of adjustment with such security that accidentaldisplacement of'the tilting element incident to the weight and/orposition of the instrument thereon will be positively prevented. It willbe clear that in the unlocked position of the lever 82, the spring 84will yieldingly function totake' up any necessary working clearancebetween the parts and form a brake upon the movement of the element I1,and that in the lockedposition of the lever'82, the yielding force ofthe spring is added to by the unyielding force imposed by the axialfeeding of the shaft ll/so as to securely bind the tilting element inits adjusted position. v 7

It will be manifest that in the operation of the invention, the element16' can be'rotated'tnroug-h out three hundred and sixtyd'e'grees ln-onedirection or the other with the utmost-ease and smoothness of movement;-that theele'ment II can be tilted from a horizontal position inanedirection or the other-through an angle-of ninety" degrees; and thatwiththecr ank handle at the right hand of the opefa'toi'and the knob asat the left" hand or one nundred eighty-de rees from the handle, theelementslt and f" can-beconcurrently" or independently moved-manually inwhatever direction'desired to rnaintain the instrumentt'rainedon asubject; Furthermore, by a simple actuation-attire lever 02 withthe lefthand thuinb afid forefinger, toward's and away from the operator,thetiltable element [6 can be lock-ed or released at will all'WI'ii-Ieinsuring' that lost motion betweeti the working parts will havenoadverse effect upon the camera which will be rigidly 'stlpportedby thehead'ifi any positionef adjustment thereof'.

It'wlll' also be understood that although the tiltable element I! can besecurely locked against displacement by the lever 82, this element-- canStill be adjustedby actuating the knob "without unlocking the lever 82,thus enabling a very fine micrometer like adjustment to be made inopposition to the strong resistance offered by the firm frictionalgripping of the element between the bracket 50 and the Washer a l. 1

Ic'laimf' I p 1. In a supporting devicefor instruments; a base havinganupstanding flange deflningan upwardly opening chamber; apostin thecham-* ber; two elements pivotally connected forrelative tiltingmovements, with one; of the elements adapted to support an instrument 1"the other of the elements having" a cover portion: closing the top orsaid chamber, andprovided with' adepending bearing sleeve receiving saidpost to mount said other element thereon for panoramical movement; meansco actin'g, with said post. and cover portion to confine-said otherelement against upward axial displacement from; said post and tomaintain said cover-portion'in-seah lng contact with'saidflangej thebase having spaced bearings providing a pocket. therebetween'communicating with said chamber; a drive shaft journal'ed in saidbearingsand havinga noncircular portion in said pocket; a driving gearinsertable into said pocket and having a noncircular bore receiving saidnon-circular portion of the shaft to provide a driving connectionbetween the latter and gear, yet permitting insertion and withdrawal ofthe shaft from the bearings; the shaft having an annular groove in saidpocket; a retainer confined in said pocket and projecting into saidannular groove to secure the shaft against axial displacement; and adriven gear depending from said cover portion into said chamber, andmeshing with the driving gear.

2. In a supporting device for instruments, a base having an upwardlyopening chamber and spaced bearings defining a pocket therebetweencommunicating laterally with said chamber; two elements pivotallyconnected for relative tilting movements, with one of the elementsadapted to support an instrument; means mounting the other of saidelements on the base for panoramical movement and to close the top ofsaid chamber; a drive shaft insertable axially into said bearings; adriving gear insertable into said pocket; means mounting said gear onthe drive shaft for rotation thereby; a retainer co-acting with saidshaft to prevent axial displacement of the latter from said bearings; aremovable closure for said pocket confining the retainer againstdisplacement; and a driven gear on said other element disposed in thechamber and meshing with the driving gear.

3. In a supporting device for instruments, a base; a plurality ofelements, one.of which is mounted on the base for panoramical movement,and the other of which is adapted to support an instrument; said oneelement having spaced brackets between which the other element isinterposed; means pivotally mounting said other element from thebrackets for tilting adjustment; means co-acting with the elements, bywhich actuation of said other element can be effected; a locking membermounted in one of said brackets at a location concentrically of saidpivotal mounting for movement towards and away from a lateral surface ofsaid other element; means co-acting with the locking member toyieldingly urge the latter into sufficient frictional engagement withsaid lateral surface of the other element to restrain same againsttilting movement for adjustment freely by said actuating means; and anoperating member extending through said locking member and threaded intoone of said brackets; the operating member having means co-actable withthe locking member in response to axial feeding of the operating memberwhen rotated in one direction, to positively advance the locking memberinto firm engagement with said lateral Surface of said other element,and securely maintain the latter against displacement.

4. In a supporting device for instruments, a base; a plurality ofelements, one of which is mounted on the base for panoramical movement,and the other of which is adapted to support an instrument; said oneelement having spaced brackets between which the other element isinterposed; means pivotally mounting said other element from thebrackets for tilting adjustment; a shaft journaled in said brackets; adriving gear fixed to said shaft; a driven gear on said other element,meshing with the driving gear for tilting adjustment of said otherelement; said other element having an arcuate slot concentricallyrelated to the axis of said pivotal mounting; a locking member having ahead mounted in one of said brackets and a shank projecting into saidslot; an operating shaft projecting through said locking member and slotand threaded into the other of said brackets; a lever having a hub fixedto the operating shaft and bearing against said head; and a spring insaid locking member co-acting with said hub and the locking member tourge the latter axially; said head and shank of the locking memberco-acting to define a transverse shoulder frictionally engageable withsaid other element under the urging action of said spring or by axialfeeding of said operating shaft when rotated in one direction.

5. In a supporting device for instruments, a base having an upstandingfiange defining an upwardly opening chamber; two elements, one of whichis provided with spaced brackets between which the other eiement ispivotally mounted for tilting movements; an operating shaft mounted insaid brackets and having a gear thereon; a gear on said other elementmeshing with the first gear; said one of the elements having a coverportion closing the top of said chamber, said base and cover memberbeing provided with means to mount said one of the elements on the basefor panoramical movement; a driving gear rotatably mounted in the base;a driven gear on said cover portion, meshing with the driving gear insaid chamber; a locking member mounted in one of said brackets at alocation concentrically of said pivotal mounting for movement towardsand away from a lateral surface of said other element; means co-actingwith the locking member to yieldingly urge the latter into sufficientfrictional engagement with said lateral surface to restrain said otherelement against tilting movement for adjustment freely upon rotation ofsaid first gear; and means co-acting with the locking member topositively move same to a locking position with respect to said otherelement so as to maintain the latter securely in any selected adjustedposition.

6. In a supporting device for instruments, 9, base having an upstandingflange defining an upwardly opening chamber; tWo elements, one of whichis provided with spaced brackets between which the other element ispivotally mounted for tilting movement; said one of the elements havinga cover portion closing the top of said chamber, and provided with meanscoacting with the base to mount said one of the elements on the base forpanoramical movement; a driving gear rotatably mounted in the base; adriven gear on said cover portion, meshing with the driving gear in saidchamber; said other element having an arcuate slot concentricallyrelated to the axis of said pivotal mounting; a. locking member having ahead mounted in one of said brackets and a shank projecting into saidslot; an operating shaft projecting through said locking member andslot, and threaded into the other of said brackets; a lever having a hubfixed to the operating shaft and bearing against said head; and a springin said locking member coacting with said hub and the locking member tourge the latter axially; said head and shank of the locking memberco-acting to define a transverse shoulder frictionally engageable withsaid other element under the urging action of said spring or by axialfeeding of said operating shaft when rotated in one direction.

7. In a supporting device for instruments, a

Base having an upstanding flange defining an upwardly opening chamber; apost in the chamber; two elements pivotally connected ior'relativetilting movements, with one of the elements adapted to support aninstrument; the other of therelements. having a cover portion closingthe totpcfi said chamber; means rotatably mountingsaid other element onthe base for panoramical movement; the base havingspaced bearingsProviding a pocket therebetween communicating with said chamber; a driveshaft journaled' in said bearings; a driving gear insertable intosaidpocket; means mounting aid gear on said shaft in the pocket for rotationby the shaft, yet permitting Withdrawal of the shaft axially from thegear and said bearings; means co-acting with the shaft to confine thelatter against axial displacement from saidgear; and a driven geardependingfrom said cover portion into said chamber and meshing with thedriving gear.

8. In a supporting device for instruments; a base having an upstandingflange defining an upwardly opening chamber; two elements pivotallyconnected for relative tilting movements, with one of the elementsadapted to support an instrument; the other of the elements having acover portion closing the top of said chamber; a driven gear dependingfrom said cover portion into said chamber for rotating the other elementfor panoramical movement; the base having spaced bearings providing apocket therebetween communicating with. saidchamber; a drive shaftjournaled vin. said: bearings and having a non.- circular portion insaid pocket; a driving gear. meshingewith thezdriven geanand: receivablein said pocket and having a non-circular borere- 'ceiving saidnon-circular portion of the shaft to provide'a; drivingconnectionbetween; the lat-. ter audit-he driving gear, yet; permittingYinsertion andiwithdrawalfof .theshaft from the. bear:- i'ngs; the shafthaving an annular groove in said pocket; and a retainer confined in saidpocket and. projecting into saidannular'groove to secure the shaftagainst axial displacement.

9. In a: supportingdevice for instruments; a

base two: elements pivotally connected for relative tilting; movements;with one of: the elements adapted: to support an instrument, andtheother element being rotatably mounted on the base for panoramicalmovement; the base havingspaced JACOB FRAN Z FISHTER.

